Bufo Americanus Toxins potentiality

[limnologist]

Hi everyone, I feed my pacman frogs American Toads, They love them. Some people say it is dangerous to do that, but I know that Bufo Americanus is in fact, NOT DEADLY.

Anyone wanna have a say on this?

[poison]

How long have you been feeding these toads to your pac and how often?

[poison]

I doubt a single toad is deadly as they get eaten all the time in the wild. Using them as a staple diet may shorten the frogs life span. Whether you believe it or not they do have toxins in them. There are better options then WC toads.

[limnologist]

How long have you been feeding these toads to your pac and how often?

I have been feeding toads to my frogs for about six years and have never experienced any bad results.

[limnologist]

I should mention I have ONLY USED BUFO AMERICANUS. I have no experience with any other toad.

[limnologist]

I doubt a single toad is deadly as they get eaten all the time in the wild. Using them as a staple diet may shorten the frogs life span. Whether you believe it or not they do have toxins in them. There are better options then WC toads.

I only use them as the occasional variety food item. That is very true, American Toads produce Bufotoxin, a substance that is irritable but not so much deadly. So far my feeding the frogs toads has not shortened any life spans. And I can say the same for my Bullfrogs, Pacmans, Axolotls, and many snake species. It just irritates me to hear people freak out because the believe the toxins are extremely dangerous! I know people who won't even handle a toad because they think they will be poisoned!

[limnologist]

some of the newest Bufo Americanus generation

[crazy]

Not sure about other frogs and toads, but I know that the bufo toxin can kill, but also in rare cases depending on the toad; but this is mostly with dogs or cats. In a rather horrible way also.... From what I read the bufo toxin gets absorbed by their mouth inflaming it and making it swell up. If it isn't treated the dog or cat they could die in I think an hour. Pretty sure it won't harm another frog or toad becuase if I am correct they pretty much absorb the toxin and end up using it as a defense against other creatures. This is especially shown in poison dart frogs, still probably not the safest thing to feed a pacman frog though especially wild caught; due to the risk of disease or parasites from the wild caught toad. Depending on the toad the bufo toxin can also harm us humans, but their toxin can also be beneficary to us as well. The bufo toxin and how harmful it is to other creatures varies depending on the toad.

[limnologist]

Not sure about other frogs and toads, but I know that the bufo toxin can kill, but also in rare cases depending on the toad; but this is mostly with dogs or cats. In a rather horrible way also.... From what I read the bufo toxin gets absorbed by their mouth inflaming it and making it swell up. If it isn't treated the dog or cat they could die in I think an hour. Pretty sure it won't harm another frog or toad becuase if I am correct they pretty much absorb the toxin and end up using it as a defense against other creatures. This is especially shown in poison dart frogs, still probably not the safest thing to feed a pacman frog though especially wild caught; due to the risk of disease or parasites from the wild caught toad. Depending on the toad the bufo toxin can also harm us humans, but their toxin can also be beneficary to us as well. The bufo toxin and how harmful it is to other creatures varies depending on the toad.

Yes! Exactly! I believe the Eastern American Toad (sorry I should have specified this before because the eastern is less toxic than the regular, and the eastern is the species I am talking about) does not have deadly effects on many animals. I don't have to worry much about parasites or diseases because I breed the toads myself. And I have encountered said poison from my toads and never experienced any pain or illnesses (unless it got in my eyes of course) and have been doing research and think that certain bufotoxins are like the brown-recluse's venom in that it only effects people who are "allergic" to the venom. It's a very interesting subject and I think more research is to be done on it!

[crazy]

Yes! Exactly! I believe the Eastern American Toad (sorry I should have specified this before because the eastern is less toxic than the regular, and the eastern is the species I am talking about) does not have deadly effects on many animals. I don't have to worry much about parasites or diseases because I breed the toads myself. And I have encountered said poison from my toads and never experienced any pain or illnesses (unless it got in my eyes of course) and have been doing research and think that certain bufotoxins are like the brown-recluse's venom in that it only effects people who are "allergic" to the venom. It's a very interesting subject and I think more research is to be done on it!

Bufo toxin is interesting. Especially with how its toxin strength varies among the toads, what I mean is that one toad species toxin is stronger than the others. For example, the cane toads bufo toxin is deadlier than the southern toads bufo toxin. The question to that is why is it stronger, would it most likely be from what they eat? If that was the case captive bred toads and frogs probably wouldn't have any toxin because they haven't eaten anything to give them that said toxin. Unless the toads naturally develop theirs unlike the poison dart frogs which get theirs from the ants in central and south america.

[Ted]

That happened to my white cat.she came in the house one night gagging and foaming at the mouth,I wasnt sure what was up,until I looked in the garage and found a freshly mangled toad. I washed her mouth out a few times and she pulled through.i knew it was toxic but I didn't know it was deadly to cats...

[limnologist]

Bufo toxin is interesting. Especially with how its toxin strength varies among the toads, what I mean is that one toad species toxin is stronger than the others. For example, the cane toads bufo toxin is deadlier than the southern toads bufo toxin. The question to that is
why is it stronger, would it most likely be from what they eat? If that was the case captive bred toads and frogs probably wouldn't have any toxin because they haven't eaten anything to give them that said toxin. Unless the toads naturally develop theirs unlike the poison dart frogs which get theirs from the ants in central and south america.

It truly is amazing! I would actually believe its more of a predator or habitat based defense, but it is also very possible that it is more food based.

[limnologist]

That happened to my white cat.she came in the house one night gagging and foaming at the mouth,I wasnt sure what was up,until I looked in the garage and found a freshly mangled toad. I washed her mouth out a few times and she pulled through.i knew it was toxic but I didn't know it was deadly to cats...

Its probably because house cats have been so domesticated that thier domesticated bodies cant hnde it very well

[limnologist]

Its probably because house cats have been so domesticated that thierdomesticated bodies cant hnde it very well

To mke that sound less stupid. I mean to say, theyve been so innerbred and domesticated that they ost their natural ability to heal themselves, in other words, they ost their natural "immunity"

[UncleChester]

It's highly dependent on the type of toad and the thing eating it. Some Garter snakes have developed a resistance to toad toxins and will happily chow down on them, while other snakes will need a trip to the ER and naturally avoid eating toads. It wouldn't be surprising if animals known for eating anything that fits down their mouths (like Bullfrogs) to have developed a resistance, but I don't know anything for certain here. The toad toxins vary across toad species as well.

I've always understood that a Bufo americanus was capable of doing in a cat or dog, but it's dependent on the size of the toad and cat/dog as well as how much is eaten. It's also not impossible that some people will have skin irritation when handling an American Toad, I never have but other people may react differently. I've never heard of any major health problems simply from touching an American toad. Good sense applies- don't let your cat or dog or child eat random animals (or plants) found outside and you never have to worry.

Here's a pile of details on various effects of toad toxins, including an LD50 table for cats for various toad toxins:

Erowid Psychoactive Toads Vault : Health #1

I'm not sure which is produced by the American Toad, and the article they seem to reference for the table isn't available freely but it looks interesting for toad toxin info: Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom - Chen - 2006 - Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Wiley Online Library

http://actor.epa.gov/actor/GenericCh...casrn=464-81-3 suggests the LD50 of American Toads Bufotoxin for cats is .3mg/kg

[limnologist]

It's highly dependent on the type of toad and the thing eating it. Some Garter snakes have developed a resistance to toad toxins and will happily chow down on them, while other snakes will need a trip to the ER and naturally avoid eating toads. It wouldn't be surprising if animals known for eating anything that fits down their mouths (like Bullfrogs) to have developed a resistance, but I don't know anything for certain here. The toad toxins vary across toad species as well.

I've always understood that a Bufo americanus was capable of doing in a cat or dog, but it's dependent on the size of the toad and cat/dog as well as how much is eaten. It's also not impossible that some people will have skin irritation when handling an American Toad, I never have but other people may react differently. I've never heard of any major health problems simply from touching an American toad. Good sense applies- don't let your cat or dog or child eat random animals (or plants) found outside and you never have to worry.

Here's a pile of details on various effects of toad toxins, including an LD50 table for cats for various toad toxins:

Erowid Psychoactive Toads Vault : Health #1

I'm not sure which is produced by the American Toad, and the article they seem to reference for the table isn't available freely but it looks interesting for toad toxin info: Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom - Chen - 2006 - Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Wiley Online Library

http://actor.epa.gov/actor/GenericCh...casrn=464-81-3 suggests the LD50 of American Toads Bufotoxin for cats is .3mg/kg

I still say people need to do more research on it so someone like me can look it up on the internet lol

[crazy]

It's highly dependent on the type of toad and the thing eating it. Some Garter snakes have developed a resistance to toad toxins and will happily chow down on them, while other snakes will need a trip to the ER and naturally avoid eating toads. It wouldn't be surprising if animals known for eating anything that fits down their mouths (like Bullfrogs) to have developed a resistance, but I don't know anything for certain here. The toad toxins vary across toad species as well.

I've always understood that a Bufo americanus was capable of doing in a cat or dog, but it's dependent on the size of the toad and cat/dog as well as how much is eaten. It's also not impossible that some people will have skin irritation when handling an American Toad, I never have but other people may react differently. I've never heard of any major health problems simply from touching an American toad. Good sense applies- don't let your cat or dog or child eat random animals (or plants) found outside and you never have to worry.

Here's a pile of details on various effects of toad toxins, including an LD50 table for cats for various toad toxins:

Erowid Psychoactive Toads Vault : Health #1

I'm not sure which is produced by the American Toad, and the article they seem to reference for the table isn't available freely but it looks interesting for toad toxin info: Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom - Chen - 2006 - Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Wiley Online Library

http://actor.epa.gov/actor/GenericCh...casrn=464-81-3 suggests the LD50 of American Toads Bufotoxin for cats is .3mg/kg

That is true, there are animals out there that the bufo toxin doesn't effect. I have also heard reports of people breaking out in rashes or getting sick when handling eastern spadefoot toads; but I think that is more of an allergic reaction. Got to love toads though.

[limnologist]

That is true, there are animals out there that the bufo toxin doesn't effect. I have also heard reports of people breaking out in rashes or getting sick when handling eastern spadefoot toads; but I think that is more of an allergic reaction. Got to love toads though.

Apparently bufo-toxins are like coral-toxins and have the potential of healing certain cancers.

As with coral-toxins, bufo-toxins enter the body and target certain cells and irradicate them. It might be possible to use the bufo-toxin in a way that it targets specific cells that are infected and destroys them.
Test are already underway for coral-toxins, they have much potential as cancer cures and we already know that some corals and algae can heal certain ailments.

FUN FACT!!!! did you know that Indians used certain toads as painkillers? I actually forgot the name of the indian tribe and the name of the toad....sorry lol.

[crazy]

Apparently bufo-toxins are like coral-toxins and have the potential of healing certain cancers.

As with coral-toxins, bufo-toxins enter the body and target certain cells and irradicate them. It might be possible to use the bufo-toxin in a way that it targets specific cells that are infected and destroys them.
Test are already underway for coral-toxins, they have much potential as cancer cures and we already know that some corals and algae can heal certain ailments.

FUN FACT!!!! did you know that Indians used certain toads as painkillers? I actually forgot the name of the indian tribe and the name of the toad....sorry lol.

If that was the case then we really should study this toxin more. I say this because if it is true that bufo toxin does kill cells we could use it against cancer and other tumors. I do know that the poison from a frog contains a protien that restricts the growth of bloodviens. With that it reduces the chances of getting diabetes, high blood pressure, and a few other things. These are just a few reasons why we need to protect frogs and toads. I wrote two papers on the decline of population of frogs and toads for my composistion class.

[limnologist]

If that was the case then we really should study this toxin more. I say this because if it is true that bufo toxin does kill cells we could use it against cancer and other tumors. I do know that the poison from a frog contains a protien that restricts the growth of bloodviens. With that it reduces the chances of getting diabetes, high blood pressure, and a few other things. These are just a few reasons why we need to protect frogs and toads. I wrote two papers on the decline of population of frogs and toads for my composistion class.

Weve barely tapped the wonder-well of the world of amphibians